Coupling



arch 22, 1949. N. L. CHATHAM COUPLING Filed Aug. 25, 1945 7/// 5 Il lllll- Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES Aram" oFFIcE COUPLING Newton L. Chatham, Olean, N. Y.

Application August 25, 1945, Serial No. 612,577

1 claim. 1

couplings.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a coupling for garden hose and air, steam and gas lines and conduits for uids of every description which may very readily be detached therefrom and which, during use, is completely sealed against water leakage,

It is the further object of this invention to provide a coupling of the character described which may be manufactured and sold at relatively low cost and which may be manufactured and assembled with great ease.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through said embodiment showing its several parts locked tcgether;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing how the releasing member of the device unlocks the several parts thereof from one another;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the device on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing comprises but six parts, to wit, a screw threaded tubular member II] removably disposed within a screw threaded sleeve member II, an annular locking member I2 carried within the sleeve, an annular releasing member I3 slidably disposed between said tubular and sleeve members and a washer Ill sealing the space between said tubular and sleeve members and a second washer I5 carried within said tubular member to seal the space between it and the hose (not shown) to which it is intended to be connected.

It will be noted that the threaded portions I6 and Il, respectively, of the tubular and sleeve members are formed at the opposite ends of said members so that when the two members are joined as shown in the drawing, their threaded portions comprise the opposite ends of the coupling which said members and the other members above mentioned comprise. The non-threaded portion I8 of the tubular member may be of reduced external and internal diameter. It is provided at its free end with a beveled portion I9 terminating in an annular shoulder 20.

The non-threaded end 25 of the sleeve member I I may also have a reduced inner diameter. It is provided with an annular shelf 26 on its inner surface and an annular groove 2'! on its outer surface. The annular locking member I2 is carried within the sleeve member on its annular 2 shelf 2S. It is adapted to engage the shoulder 2li of the tubular member I0.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the locking member I2 merges with the tapered or beveled portion I9 of the tubular member IIJ and that between the inside surface of the sleeve member on the one hand, and the locking member and the tapered portion I9 of the tubular member on the other hand, a substantially V-shaped annular space is formed. It is in this space that the washer I4 is disposed, said washer being substantially V-shaped in cross section. The outer wall of said V-shaped Washer is provided with a iiange 2S which serves as an ordinary washer sealing the space between the sleeve member II and a threaded faucet (not shown) when the former is mounted on the latter.

The locking member I2 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to have a plurality of lingers 29, which fingersas has already been indicated-are disposed to engage the shoulder 2o of the tubular member I Il. These lingers, as well as the rest of the locking member, are formed of relatively flexible material such as spring steel.

The releasing member I3 comprises a `tubular member having an outwardly, upwardly and inwardly bent lower end 30. The inwardly bent portion 3l thereof is disposed to enter the annular groove 21 of the sleeve member II. As has already been indicated, this releasing member is slidably disposed between the tubular and sleeve members, the limits of its movement in either direction being determined by the width of the annular groove 21. It will be noted that the upper end of the releasing member I3 is adapted to engage the locking member I2 at the point where said locking member and the tubular member I0 meet. When the releasing member is moved upwardly and against the locking member, the lingers 29 thereof are caused to spread out and to disengage the shoulder 20 of the tubular member I0.

It now becomes clear that when the tubular and sleeve members are brought together, the lingers 29 of the locking member automatically engage the shoulder 20 of the tubular member, thereby preventing separation of the tubular member from the sleeve member. When it is desired to disconnect the tubular from the sleeve member, the bent portion 30 of the releasing member I3 is moved upwardly, thereby bringing the free end of the releasing member against the locking member and causing disengagement of the same from the tubular member. The tubular and sleeve members may now be drawn apart.

The function of the V-shaped space between the two walls of the V-shaped washer i4 is as follows: When water is caused to flow through the coupling it fills said V-shaped space and brings pressure to bear against the walls of said V- shaped washer, forcing them apart, one of them being forced into pressure contact with the inner surface of the sleeve member, the other being forced into pressure contact with the tapered portion I9 of the tubular member and also with the locking member l2. A watertight seal is thereby provided between the sleeve member on the one hand, and the tubular member on the other, and the locking member is locked into place.

A preferred embodiment only of the invention has herein been described. Modifications may be incorporated therein without departing from. the basic principles of the invention. For example` the tubular and sleeve members are shown to be threaded internally. Either or both may be threaded externally in accordance with specic needs.

I claim:

A coupling comprising a screwl threaded tubular member removably disposed within a screw threaded sleeve member, an annular locking member carried within said sleevemember hav- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,587,079 Maehino June 1, 1926 2,111,956 Baldwin Mar. 22, 1938 2,127,086 McGartll Aug. 16, 1938 2,238,706 Ohls Apr. 15, 1941 2,252,240 Tschappat Aug. 12, 1941 2,280,183 Bennett Apr. 21, 1942 

